Reds ‘would never’ jeopardize Risedorf, players eligibility

Cincinnati Reds’ area scout John Ceprini says that the Reds would never jeopardize a player’s eligibility with workouts.Pete Paguaga – Register Citizen

“The (Cincinnati) Reds would not ask a player to forgo his season, it’s not fair to the player, the team or the school,” Cincinnati Reds area scout John Ceprini said in response to Zach Risedorf saying he would attend workouts hosted by three MLB teams at the end of May, making him ineligible, by CIAC rules, for the end of Northwestern’s season.

“We would never jeopardize a player’s eligibility,” he added.

Risedorf said he was invited and would go to workouts hosted by the San Diego Padres on May 25, Pittsburgh Pirates on May 26 and one with the Reds at a date not determined yet.

According to Article XII of the CIAC by-laws, any participation as an individual on a non-school sponsored team in a sports competition, practice, showcase, try-out, camp or clinic the same season as the team they are on will make the athlete ineligible.

“I just want to clarify any misconceptions,” Ceprini said. “The Reds have not extended any invitations to anybody. They will go out next week.”

On Wednesday, Northwestern athletic director Fred Williams went to the CIAC to see if Risedorf could get an exception to go to the MLB workouts, where he wouldn’t miss a game or a practice.

The CIAC declined Williams, forcing Risedorf to make the decision that when May 25 arrived he would be at the workout with the Padres, becoming ineligible and would miss the final game of the season on May 27 against Lewis Mills and any state tournament games the Highlanders would play in.

“Most importantly we wouldn’t ask a player to leave his team,” Ceprini said.

Doesnt get any more selfish then that. Why cant he just wait to go to the showcases like Thomas Milone of Mask did last year? So basically he may be ruining the end of the season for his team mates, thats awful

Nice follow up Pete. Happy to hear a kid can still play high baseball and try out for a professional baseball team. If the kid isn’t getting paid he should be able to play with his HS team after a tryout.

The problems are the CIAC rules here, not the young mans decision. The idea that “safety” is really the reason does not wash in this instance and that the waiver was rejected that quickly by the CIAC drives the point home. It is a turf war with the CIAC trying to hold this kids teammates over his head. Nice.

For most of us, playing HS sports and having a chance for a State Championship is the pinnacle of our athletic careers. For this type of player it is not. It is important for different reasons. Competition, HS pride, camaraderie with the kids you grew up with, that’s what these kids are playing for. And that is what the CIAC is trying to hold hostage. This level of player is chasing their dream, which is to play in the pros, or to play in college. HS sports are great, but not their goal, it is a step along the way. Others have commented to “finish what you started” with relation to the HS season, but he is trying to “finish what he started” long before HS. To play at an elite level, pros for this boy, college for others.

The decision he is being forced to make, for no real reason, will be faced by many athletes as colleges and pro leagues focus their scouting more and more on the travel leagues. They do this as the concentration of talent competing against equal levels of talent in one place is a more effective way to scout. Rules like the CIAC have force athletes to hide participation or chose to not play their top sport so they can get coaching throughout off season and on season training sessions. Or to leave their HS teams so they can participate with top travel teams when the travel seasons start. Many players switch to track rather than a team sport to avoid these conflicts. With the competition for college scholarships at a premium, I think we will see fewer and fewer multi-team sport athletes.

I wish Risedorf all the best. His teammates will support his decision I am sure. It will mainly be the parents who don’t understand today’s dynamics who will call him selfish, but really, aren’t they the ones truly being selfish by trying to lessen the chances of this players dreams being fulfilled ?